91 sylvan eliminator draw (or how shallow is too shallow)

[sodakdave]

I'm still searching for a good fishing boat, and I'm zeroing in on a 91 Sylvan Eliminator 19'. Being a larger (and heavier) boat, how shallow is too shallow for it. Could I put around in 3-4 feet and be OK? or would I need to stay deeper?

I've been searching all over the place and there's not a lot of info on these boats out there. I did get Sylvan to send me the original catalog pages for it (really surprised me that they were willing to do that) but it doesn't mention any of the draw or deadrise specs. it does have 115 and 8 hp mercs on it so that'll drag it down a little in the back.

It'll be perfect for the larger lakes around me and my trips to the river, but I'm wondering how limited I'll be getting to some of the spots I like in some of the smaller lakes near me that are pretty shallow.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Could I put around in 3-4 feet and be OK?

Ayuh,...... I would think that would be fine, even with the motor full down,......

Trimmed/ tilted out, you could probably pole through 1/2 that much water,......

 

[roffey]

For what ever its worth, I have a 20 foot stingray with I/O, 198 LX. My depth sounder is set to sound at 2 feet and that's motor down full all the way. I bump bottom at 1.5 feet and have to raise the motor.

 

[ahicks]

So much of the answer to this question is going to be regarding specific set up. Dual batteries, oversize gas tank just ahead of the transom, big/full storage lockers located to the rear, all might affect draft.

Then, there's the putting around on idle draft, and that required to put the boat up on plane. That may require a LOT of water depth! Same with running around while not completely on plane. You can easily be pulling 4' doing that.

With a little common sense, I think 3-4' of water would be fine though.

 

[harringtondav]

^^^^ Agree. It's a weight and speed issue. Up on a full plane, even 3' should clear. Getting up on that plane....4' could be close. O/B are more tolerant than an I/O for high trim splashing out of a shallow.

 

[sodakdave]

I've got 6' + in the areas that I want to get up on plane, so I'm comfortable there. It's just for getting into and out of some of the little bays that hold some nice weed beds.The boat does have a little 8hp kicker and a trolling motor that would probably do just fine getting in and out of there.

Thanks for the sanity check, I feel better about this one.

 

[QBhoy]

Very generally speaking most small boats of similar types will draw around 2ft at least with the motor down.
My own 18ft open bow with a fairly hefty inboard and alpha leg draws exactly an inch over 3 ft with drove down and at rest. She sits heavy and deep at the stern though.
Good idea as mentioned above to set the alarm a little more than that, bearing in mind the transducer will usually be under the level of the surface of the water.
Getting a bit geeky on you, also to be considered is a thing called squat. This is the effect on a hull when running in shallow water at displacement speed. A low pressure is formed between the hull and the bottom which pulls the hull down towards the bottom creating a deeper draft than usual. Anyway. Enough of that !

 

[Scott Danforth]

I draw about 3' when simply floating, about 2' when on plane, however for the initial hole shot, I need to be in 5' of water or more when the boat squats.

 

[QBhoy]

I draw about 3' when simply floating, about 2' when on plane, however for the initial hole shot, I need to be in 5' of water or more when the boat squats.

Exactly the same with mine Scott.

 

[JimS123]

I assume this boat would have PTT. If the boat doesn't have a trim gauge, put one on. Then, when the boat is out of the water, raise the engine to the point where the prop is just above the bottom of the boat. Note the position on the trim gauge. Then when you get in shallow water, slow down and raise the motor to your safe point.

My last boat was calibrated that way and I never once hit the bottom. You should be good to at least 18".

 

[roffey]

jumping back in the discussion, I am only talking what the boat will draw when idling. If I am WTO I bet my boat will draw inches of water as only the last foot if that is in the water but who would drive WTO in a couple of feet of water, I like my boat more than that.

As Scott said I wont punch it till I have at least 5 feet of water... breaking in to a cold sweet just thinking of hitting bottom at full pin... I can sleep now.. thinking about it all day,,,

going off the therapist now... :nightmare: fortunately I have a few months to get over this... :canada:

 

[sodakdave]

Yeah, at absolute most it would be the kicker through those depths, if not the trolling motor alone. There just some nice crappie up in that shallow bay that make a good dinner.

 

[roscoe]

Go look at the boat.
Look at the transom.
There will likely be some stains on the transom indicating the at rest waterline.
Measure down from there to bottom of the hull, add 8". This is how much water you will need to putter through shallow water with motor slightly tilted.

Add another 12" and you have the depth for motor down and idling.

 

[sodakdave]

I'll be going to look at the boat next weekend roads permitting. It's a 4.5 hour drive and if the roads are bad, I'll be waiting till I'm comfortable pulling it home.

 

[harringtondav]

Good idea as mentioned above to set the alarm a little more than that, bearing in mind the transducer will usually be under the level of the surface of the water.

That is a skeg, prop saver. My depth gage doesn't have a keel offset adjustment. I have an external transducer even with the hull, close to keel depth. I subtract 1' from my gage to be sure.

It helps when sneaking into a shallow or beach. It's worthless when I'm on a plane in "known" deep water, and a bottom snag tree from last spring's flood is 1' under the surface. My rule is to follow a larger boat, if possible.